Some don't want to be awakened
From their peaceful slumber
And choose not to hear the existing truths
That overwhelmingly outnumber
 
The copious, complacent fairy tales
That fill their lives and dreams
And hold them hostage from the facts
Completely, or so it seems.
 
Their sleeping pill is called "Not Caring."
It's cheap and easy to find.
It dulls the senses and provides the user
With a perfidious peace of mind.
 
A stronger pill called "Oblivion"
Is also widely available.
Those who take it think that their lack
Of involvement is unassailable.
 
Stronger yet is a pill called "Forgetfulness."
Many prefer that pill,
Which allows them the blissful ability
To forget anything at will.
 
So cheap they are--these drugs of preference--
That they have found their niche;
And furthermore, they don't discriminate
Between the poor and rich.
 
Instead of listening to the cries of the world--
Of injustice, of inhumanity--
Many prefer to sleep in indifference.
Now that's what I call insanity!

- by Bob B

(In the musical PETER PAN, Captain Hook, in the song "Captain Hook's Waltz" by Jule Styne, Adolph Green and Betty Comden, boasts about his villainy. Here Donald Trump, who prides himself on being as obnoxious as possible, sings his version. The responses of his admin team are in parentheses.)

I'm the greatest ruler of all time.
Who was Mussolini?
(Nobody!)
Who was ******?
(Nobody!)
Who is Vladimir Putin?
(Nobody!)

Who's the greatest deceiver of all?
(Donald Trump!... Donald Trump!)
Who's the MOST shameless man in this dog-eat-dog world?
(Donald Trump!... Donald Trump!)
Expert at knowing how someone can dupe
Others by showing how low ANY dictator can stoop.
(He'll stoop!)

Who's the basest of bullies around?
(Donald Trump!... Donald Trump!)
Who's unpliable?
(You!)
Unreliable?
(You!)
Who do some think could be certifiable?
(You!)
And who couldn't care less if the rest of the world's in a slump?
(World's in a slump!)
(No one else but Donald Trump.)
…
Who's the neediest?
(Neediest!)
Who's the seediest?
(Seediest!)
Who's the greediest?
(Greediest!)

Who's the MOST expert fibber around?
(Donald Trump!... Donald Trump!)
Who's displaceable?
(You!)
Ineffaceable?
(You!)
Who rich oligarchs find irreplaceable?
(You!)
Who's the slimiest, snakiest, snarkiest, scruffiest grump?
(Scruffiest grump!)
(All bow down to the king!)
If you want you can kiss my ring.
(The con with a plan.)
I guess I'm your man.
(Donald)
Trump
(Trump! Trump!... Trump! Trump!)
Trump
(Trump! Trump!... Trump! Trump!)
Trump!

-by Bob B (2-3-25)

(This poem could be sung to the melody of "Michelle" by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.)

D.T., you'll see:
Though you fool your minions with your lies,
You don't fool me.
D.T., je sais…
Je sais qui vous êtes vraiment…se sais…
Je sais vraiment.
Say, what the hell were you thinking?
When you took all those docs?
You think that simple locks
Will protect top secret docs from getting out of your hands?

D.T., I'll say
You aren't fit to run this country, no,
I say no way.
There are folks out there who want you
To be their shining star.
They don't see who you are.
Or if they do, they might see through your guise, and they dare
Not to care.

You HAVE to know that you aren't guilt free.
But does that faze you? No.
You just put on your show.
To get your way you have to play the martyr each day.

D.T., you'll see.
Fess up to your wrongs and be a man.
Yes, be a man.
I say accountability's a word that you have to learn,
Dear D.T.

D.T., you'll see:
Though you fool your minions with your lies,
You don't fool me.

-by Bob B (8-14-22)

(For some reason, I found this poem in my DRAFTS. I guess I hadn't "published" it for public eyes, and it sat, along with 25 or so of my other poems, in my DRAFTS folder until today. Sorry about the delay.)

(This poem could be sung to the melody of "Michelle" by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.)

D.T., you'll see:
Though you fool your minions with your lies,
You don't fool me.
D.T., je sais…
Je sais qui vous êtes vraiment…je sais…
Je sais vraiment.
Say, what the hell were you thinking
When you took all those docs?
You think that simple locks
Will protect top secret docs from getting out of your hands?

D.T., I'll say
You aren't fit to run this country; no,
I say no way.
There are folks out there who want you
To be their shining star.
They don't see who you are.
Or if they do, they might see through your guise, and they dare
Not to care.

You HAVE to know that you aren't guilt free.
But does that faze you? No.
You just put on your show.
To get your way you have to play the martyr each day.

D.T., you'll see.
Fess up to your wrongs and be a man.
Yes, be a man.
I say accountability's a word that you have to learn,
Dear D.T.

D.T., you'll see:
Though you fool your minions with your lies,
You don't fool me.

-by Bob B (8-14-22)

The Dems duked it out last week.
The Democratic debate number three.
At the current time we have
Quite a political potpourri.

Cory Booker had his moments
Of passionate insight, charm, and wit.
Although his polling numbers are down,
Booker showed that he's got grit.

Klobuchar's our Minnesotan.
While sometimes others appear misguided,
She reminds us all what happens
To any house that is divided.

Warren has her plan for this
And her plan for that, which is fine.
Can she keep up the fight and maintain
The strength to toe the party line?

Harris displayed pluck and resolve.
When she speaks, she's on fire.
It's just curious as to why
Her polling numbers are not higher.

One surprise was Beto O'Rourke.
Beto fans have to rejoice:
This prospective candidate
Has all of a sudden found his voice.

Without a doubt, one of the best
Speakers standing there on the stage
Was our veteran Mayor Pete,
Extremely wise for someone his age.

Although Biden is high in the polling,
At times his answers seem disjointed.
I start with high expectations,
But end up feeling disappointed.

Castro went after Joe Biden.
But sadly Castro's condemnation
Appeared to come less from strength
And more out of desperation.

Yang has managed to keep afloat.
But what's this crazy idea he has
About wanting to buy your vote?
A little political razzmatazz?

Bernie, well…Bernie's Bernie.
But why does he have to be so gruff?
After his rants, one wants to say,
"Enough already, Bernie, enough!"

It's early still and hard to know
Who will advance and who will flop.
But I would vote for ANYONE
Over the current man at the top!

-by Bob B (9-15-19)

The battle continues as COVID-19
Insidiously continues to spread.
People are doing their part to combat it--
Still not knowing what lies ahead.

The luckier folks have milder cases.
Self-quarantined, they hope they can win
The battle against the dangerous virus--
Trying to smile as their patience wears thin.

In hospital rooms around the country
People are struggling to stay alive.
The virus stealthily crosses all boundaries,
Seeking out places where it can thrive.

Health care workers everywhere
Are putting their lives in danger to give
Excellent treatment to those in their care.
Their goal: helping their patients to live.

Loved ones live in anguish and fear.
Unable to enter hospital rooms
To comfort the ones they love, they must
Avoid a place where danger looms.

Doctors and nurses, along with other
Trained medical personnel,
Perform their medical duties and serve
As "family" to the dying as well.

A laptop or phone might be the only
Contact some have with the world outside.
For many, their bodies succumb to the virus,
For they are unable to turn the tide.

Hold them in your heart--the ones
Who are isolated and on their own.
Embrace them all with loving thoughts--
The ones who sadly must die alone.

-by Bob B (4-9-20)

When life's going well and our health is good,
We've got the drive and means to go far,
And we seem to have the world by the tail,
Do we appreciate how lucky we are?
 
My thoughts are on a particular person:
Brittany Maynard--a daughter, a wife--
Young, vivacious, compassionate, caring,
Full of dreams, at the prime of her life,
 
Until she found she had brain cancer--
Glioblastoma--an aggressive assault--
Which turned Brittany's life upside down
And brought her dreams to a sudden halt.
 
Given six more months to live,
She pondered her options and moved to a state
Where she could decide to die with dignity
Before it ended up being too late.
 
Terminally ill Oregon residents
Who are mentally competent can make use
Of the Death with Dignity Act of Oregon.
Established safeguards prevent its abuse.
 
Verbal, cognitive, and motor loss,
Possible morphine-resistant pain,
Major changes in personality,
Paralyzing seizures--hard to contain--
 
Were what Brittany had to look forward to.
Such an existence, so grim and so bleak,
Was not what she wanted her family to experience:
Her constant suffering, week after week.
 
In her last months, Brittany had traveled.
She'd shared her feelings; for example, she'd say
It's important to do what's important to us.
In other words, we should seize the day.
 
To her family in November 2014
Brittany said her final good-byes
And peacefully went on the final journey--
The one that transcends both the earth and the skies.
 
I wouldn't wait around for a miracle
If I had to deal with what Brittany went through:
Inoperable brain cancer!
I'd hightail it to Oregon, too.

- by Bob B

Have you ever heard of dyscalculia?
It's often the culprit in situations
When people have great difficulty
With mathematical calculations.

I guess it's common for some of us
To learn that math is not our domain,
But having dyscalculia implies
A certain miswiring within the brain.

I read in multiple languages,
But math has always been hard for me.
There was only ONE math class
I liked, and that was geometry.

But algebra class? No way! Forget it.
We didn't get along at all.
I took the required classes and passed,
But often it was a very close call.

Maybe some of us live on the spectrum
That goes all the way from mild to severe.
Fortunately, I didn't have to
Use heavy math throughout my career.

I've always loved to deal with words;
Languages I find exciting.
But word problems, fractions, numbers,
And calculations are uninviting.

Although I can handle simple math,
My trouble with major problems lingers.
But, shhh!, please don't tell anyone
That sometimes I still will count with my fingers.

-by Bob B (2-10-22)

(For some reason, I found this poem in my DRAFTS. I guess I hadn't "published" it for public eyes, and it sat, along with 25 or so of my other poems, in my DRAFTS folder until today. Sorry about the delay.)

Have you ever heard of "dyscalculia"?
It's often the culprit in situations
When people have great difficulty
With mathematical calculations.

I guess it's common for some of us
To learn that math is not our domain,
But having dyscalculia implies
A certain miswiring within the brain.

I read in multiple languages,
But math has always been hard for me.
There was only ONE math class
I liked, and that was geometry.

But algebra class? No way! Forget it.
We didn't get along at all.
I took the required classes and passed,
But often it was a very close call.

Maybe some of us live on the spectrum
That goes all the way from mild to severe.
Fortunately, I didn't have to
Use heavy math throughout my career.

I've always loved to deal with words;
Languages I find exciting.
But word problems, fractions, numbers,
And calculations are uninviting.

Although I can handle simple math,
My trouble with major problems lingers.
But, shhh!, please don't tell anyone
That sometimes I still will count with my fingers.

-by Bob B (2-10-22)

"Easily digestible."
Think about what those words impart.
That is precisely how a certain
American painter describes his art.

I like that description, though critics will call
His style "unsophisticated."
However, keep in mind that often
Sophistication is overrated.

It's just a way to refer to what
Artists might call a creative style.
Simplicity and directness do not
Make his paintings juvenile.

The painter's description can also apply
To poetry and music and dance.
Sometimes we can overlook
Subtle nuances at first glance.

At times, poems can be perplexing
Vague, ambiguous, and obscure.
That's quite all right, and for many readers
Such poems have a special allure.

Chefs have their styles, too,
The range of which you'll notice is wide.
Sometimes they're in complete agreement,
And sometimes the food artists' tastes will collide.

And even though poetry’s not
Literally comestible,
I prefer poems that are
Easily digestible.

-by Bob B (2-11-22)

I happened to see the Easter Bunny
On my way to Nowhere.
I asked him how he was. He said,
“You don’t want to go there.

“COVID-19, I have to say,
Is making me feel blue.
We can’t have our Easter egg hunts!
What’s a rabbit to do?

“I’m going to have to stay at home
And wallow, I’m afraid,
In jelly beans and chocolate
And watch ‘Easter Parade.’

“My Easter feast has been cancelled.
We have to “meet” on Zoom.
I’ll be celebrating while
Sitting in my room.

“I hope people were safe when buying
Easter goodies this year.
Better safe than sorry,” he added,
Wiping away a tear.

Keeping our distance and wearing our masks,
We chatted a very short while.
He said, “It’s weird: all these masks.
You CAN’T see others smile.”

Since he was in a bit of a hurry,
I said, “Old friend, stay well.”
I thought that he was smiling, but frankly,
It was hard to tell.

-by Bob B (4-12-20)

Eight shots hit Stephon Clark.
Once again the news hits hard.
Eight shots out of twenty or so
Brought him down in his grandma's backyard.

Helicopters circled above.
Police officers on the ground,
Suspecting Clark of a crime yelled out,
"Gun! Gun!" before he was downed.

Clark was holding NOT a gun
But a mobile phone. Officers said
The suspect charged at them before
They hastily shot the unarmed man dead.

But something is fishy: Six shots hit
The man in the back. By and large,
People do NOT normally
Rush backwards when they charge.

In retrospect, as we piece together
The flash of events that transpired,
We learned that after Clark had fallen,
Even more shots were fired.

Stephon Clark is another name
To add to an ever-growing list
Of unarmed black men killed by police
Whose actions cannot be dismissed.

Appropriate use of force is key;
But one thing is undeniable:
We simply can't allow ourselves
To justify the unjustifiable.

-by Bob B (3-31-18)

Donald Trump boasts about
A landslide victory in the recent election.
Trump and reality seem to be
Experiencing a disconnection.

Roughly 80,000 votes
Out of millions and millions cast
Determined the winner in the race,
And yet Trump keeps holding fast

To strange and absurd delusions of grandeur
And to a fancy on which he dotes
Regarding his "triumph" over Clinton
And the total number of winning votes.

Even though she received MORE
Than two point five million votes than he,
Eighty thousand in THREE swing states
Won him the presidency.

Eighty thousand. I repeat:
Eighty thousand. That's the size
Of a small Californian town.
That's all it took to win the prize.

As usual, Trump loves to ride
The glory train of Bombast and Bluster,
Refusing to acknowledge that
His victory is really lackluster.

- by Bob B (12-13-16)

Elmer and Lima, two male penguins
At a zoo in Syracuse, New York,
Are both excited after having
Been paid a visit by the stork.

The two had built a nest together.
Obviously, they couldn't lay
An egg, but still, the two birds cherished
Their little home, come what may.

A breeding pair kept breaking their eggs,
Which kept them from hatching their own little chick.
And so zookeepers devised a plan
To solve the problem. They had to be quick.

They gave a phony egg to the pair.
The REAL egg was placed in the nest
That Elmer and Lima had made together.
The two penguin males were put to the test.

The dads have been "exemplary parents,"
Says the zoo director. The two
Do exactly what you'd expect
Successful penguin parents to do.

Yay! Hurray for Elmer and Lima!
Once again their story shows
That non-traditional parents can be
Super-parent dynamos.

-by Bob B (3-15-22)

It takes a YEAR for planet Earth
To revolve around the sun;
It takes Neptune eighty-four Earth years
To complete a single run.
 
So if I’d been born on the planet Neptune,
I say as I’m sighing,
BEFORE I even turned ONE year old,
I’d have a good chance of dying.
 
(Yes, I know that I couldn’t LIVE
On Neptune; nevertheless,
I’m using the example to make my point.
Forgive me: I digress.)
 
Our solar system orbits the center
Of our GALAXY, the MILKY WAY.
I’m sure there’s a method of calculating
The length of a cosmic day.
 
If it takes over 200 MILLION YEARS
To revolve, then it’s very clear
That our solar system has
A very long COSMIC YEAR.
 
In fact, the last time our solar system
Was where it is right now,
Dinosaurs were walking on Earth.
If that’s not amazing, and how!
 
Clusters of galaxies also spin—
Wow! This is getting too BIG.
To figure out how much time that takes,
I need to know physics and trig.
 
Grasping the vastness of the universe
Is hard. What we must do
Is understand that time is relative
And depends on our point of view.
 
My hair—once brown—has now turned gray;
My gait is slower. It seems
The world, universe, life, and time
Are nothing but phantoms and dreams.

- by Bob B

If Trump has a goal to be respected,
It is very far out of reach,
For he has disgusted the world again--
This time with his U.N. speech.

For someone to sound like a narcissist,
He definitely takes the prize.
His almost an hour-long speech became
A litany of bald-faced lies.

Asked to speak only 15 minutes,
He chose to ignore the request. Not strange.
Touching on the economy,
Immigration, and climate change,

He berated world leaders
And spoke of the wonderful things he's done.
He said he ended seven wars--
Another tale that the spinner has spun.

Of course, he had to criticize
The previous administration.
How can he not see that he
Himself is the real abomination?

His message--Christian nationalistic
At times--was hardly unifying.
In fact, his creepy, bombastic words
Were ultimately world-denying.

He also complained of sabotage--
In typically Trump-like fashion--
Of the escalator and teleprompter.
The far-right jumped on that with passion.

As it turned out, the malfunctions
Were caused by members of Trump's own team.
More examples of carelessness
Existing within the Trump regime?

Foreigners ask if we know how
Embarrassing Trump looks. We do.
They feel that he's stark raving mad.
All we can say is, "That's so true."

-by Bob B (9-24-25)

Certain energies fill our lives
And work to make us whole.
But they can also work against us
When they're out of control.

Aries energies are dynamic,
Ambitious, though sometimes obsessive.
If they get out of whack, we can be
Impatient and aggressive.

Taurus energies make us feel
Practical, stable, and grounded.
But when they make us stubborn and rigid,
Our problems are then compounded.

Gemini energies have an effect
On self-expression and learning.
But if they make us manipulative,
That can be concerning.

Cancer energies give us a kind,
Nurturing, loving feeling.
But oversensitivity
Can be unappealing.

Leo energies help us shine
And lead, but I must mention
That we can be a bit too much
If we crave too much attention.

Virgo energies lead us to serve
Others and be analytical.
But sometimes they make us too uptight,
Stern and overcritical.

Libra energies lead us toward
Balance and mediation.
But doubt and passive-aggressiveness
Can be a complication.

Scorpio energies grant us with
Emotional depth and power.
But if we become TOO intense,
Interactions will sour.

Sagittarius energies make us
Travel, seek, and explore.
But if those desires are stifled at all,
Life can be a bore.

Capricorn energies drive us to meet
Our goals, which makes us cheerful.
But if we lose self-trust, we can be
Insecure and fearful.

Aquarius energies give us gumption
To fight for many a cause.
But we can be distant and cold if our
Efforts are put on pause.

Pisces energies tend to make us
Sensitive and creative,
Unless we become a victim or martyr,
Which can be suffocative.

"Know thyself," they say. That means
To let your inner strength guide you.
Focus on positive energies that
Swirl around inside you.

-by Bob B (1-22-22)

Isn't English fun to learn--
Especially spelling and pronunciation?
It's hard enough for native speakers
And is the cause of a lot of frustration!

Think of female deer, does,
And then the form of "do," "does."
Consider the "a-s" found in "as"
And how it is pronounced in "was."

We have ears on our heads.
Add a "b" and you've got "bears."
There's also "e-a-r" in "earth."
And a funny "e-i" found in "heirs."

Look up and see a star.
Add an "e" and you've got "stare."
That is not so hard perhaps.
But why does "stare" rhyme with "where"?

"Say" is easy to say, all right.
But add an "s" and you've got "says."
But if you add an "s" to "hay,"
You do not pronounce it "hez"!

Back to "where," which rhymes with "air."
But look at the "e-r-e" in sphere.
"I" before "e" except after "c"…
But what about the weird word "weir"?

"Tough" and "though" are always fun.
Then there's "through" and "ought" and "drought."
Don't forget to drop the "b"
When you say both "debt" and "doubt."

Throw in apostrophes,
And English teachers really have fits
When they are used for writing plurals
Or when "it's" is used for "its."

Forget all the silent letters
In words like "write," "knot," and "pneumonia."
If you said, "I made the rules,"
I'd have to say, "I disown ya!"

It wouldn't work to try to write
All the words phonetically,
For Easterners and Southerners
Don't say all the words like me.

For many years I've been around English--
Hearing, speaking, discerning it,
Exploring its countless nuances.
I guess I'll always be learning it.

-by Bob B (8-28-17)

Environmental Protection Agency,
It's sad to see your cruel fate,
Brought about by someone who
Wants to make this country "great."

Since Donald Trump has been in office,
You are being obliterated
By the very industries
That you should have regulated.

Environmental regulations
Have been rolled back to such a degree
That consequences will be titanic,
And that is not hyperbole.

Lifting regulations to keep
Coal waste out of waterways
Is an unconscionable act,
Deserving of censure instead of praise.

Concerned voices of climate change
Researchers have been muted,
Even though among the majority
The phenomenon is undisputed.

Direct results from climate change
Are costing billions of dollars already
And add to making living conditions
On Earth all the more unsteady.

Your old title, EPA,
Has been replaced. Let us proclaim:
Environmental DESTRUCTION Agency
Is now a more appropriate name.

-by Bob B (11-9-17)

Life has its beautiful moments
When everything appears to jell.
Then, of course, life is filled
With moments of suffering as well.

Good days, bad days. The pendulum swings.
We’re happy today, we’re sad tomorrow.
Our attitude makes a huge difference
In how we respond to joy and sorrow.

Whatever inhabits my earthly form
Is a temporary guest
Until that time comes for me
To enter into eternal rest.

Eternal rest. I like how that sounds.
And also the thought of resting in peace.
Happiness becomes transformed
And illness, pain, and suffering cease.

It’s human nature for us to want
Some things to last forever and hence
As much as we cling to people and things,
Know that there is a consequence.

I hate the thought of leaving my loved ones--
My family, my friends--and earthly pleasures,
But when my time is up, I know
That Death defies our countermeasures.

That being said, I do not wish
To die tomorrow or hasten the end.
I just prefer to look at Death
Not as a foe but more as a friend.

-by Bob B (10-26-21)

Everything hangs by a tenuous thread.
Don't be vain or unrealistic.
Such is existence: it comes and goes.
That's being honest and NOT pessimistic.

Abandon a false sense of security.
Throw off thoughts of invincibility.
Does knowing that things are beyond your control
Dare to threaten your fragile tranquility?

Fiery summers can parch the earth;
We are vulnerable in bitter cold winters.
Although our home seems strong and solid,
A tornado can leave our "fortress" in splinters.

Rising waters inundate the land.
When that happens, we grow less smug.
As hard as we try to control nature's flooding,
We can't simply pull a bathtub plug.

Our firm foundation seems indestructible;
Efforts to make us safe are painstaking.
Nevertheless, notice how helpless
All of us are when the ground starts shaking.

Timeless time is tightly tied
Inextricably to being.
Such interconnectedness
Ought to be consoling and freeing.

What about resilience? you ask.
Life has a resilient bent
That helps us deal with challenges
And face what we can't circumvent.

You know the saying, the old cliché:
Here today; gone tomorrow.
Our attitude will determine whether
Our life is full of happiness or sorrow.

Live each moment, love others,
Learn constantly, and plan ahead.
Just remember that ultimately,
Everything hangs by a tenuous thread.

- by Bob B

There is a little, tiny tapeworm;
Anomotaenia brevis it's called.
Many people have studied this creature--
Some are amazed; some are appalled.

Needing to find a way to survive,
This tiny tapeworm seeks a host.
As it turns out, the woodpecker
Is the host it likes the most.

Certain ants like to collect
Woodpecker droppings. Is that surprising?
They feed the droppings to their larvae.
Yuck! Not so appetizing!

The droppings containing tapeworm eggs
Give some ants the parasite.
When they grow up to be adults,
Their behavior is not quite right.

The non-infected ants still feed them,
But they laze around, refusing to work.
Maybe their new behavior doesn't
Let them know where dangers might lurk.

The way they act increases the chances
That woodpeckers will eat them for dinner.
The question that people might have is this:
Who is the loser and who is the winner?

The birds eat the ants, become infected,
And leave their droppings, whereupon
The ants will feed their larvae the droppings.
The tapeworm cycle goes on and on.

How living forms have thus evolved
To use and be used in such odd ways
Shows the wonders of evolution--
Wonders that never cease to amaze.

-by Bob B (2-11-25)

Overwhelmed by so much to do,
And concerned that things would only get worse,
God decided to reevaluate
And take stock of His universe.
 
“I know it’s small in the scheme of things,
But I have to say, for what it’s worth,
One of my favorite projects was
A little planet known as Earth.
 
“What a beautiful place it was—
Forests thick with towering trees,
Emerald valleys, golden fields,
Crystal lakes, and unspoiled seas!
 
“But, oh, my goodness, look how man
Has managed to the nth degree
To sabotage my work of art!
Good intentions backfired on me.
 
“Majestic forests: disappearing;
Gorgeous valleys: barren mounds;
Lakes and seas: polluted waters;
Golden fields: dumping grounds.
 
“I gave people ears to hear with,
But no one listens anymore;
I gave people hearts to feel with,
Yet feeling has gone out the door.
 
“I gave people eyes to see with,
Yet so many folks are blind;
I gave people brains to think with;
What has happened to their mind?
 
“Instead of helping their fellow man,
Out of anger they hurt and maim.
Instead of peacefully living together,
They fight their battles in my name.
 
“WHY is there such reluctance
To offer aid to those in need?
Generosity and sharing
Both have been replaced by greed.
 
“The measurement of countries’ success
Unfortunately corresponds,
Not to taking care of the people,
But to GNP and stocks and bonds.
 
“People also use my name
To justify their cruel hate.
Why can’t more see me as LOVE.
Now THAT truly would be great.
 
“They love to put words in my mouth
And claim to know my secret thoughts;
Then they try to control others.
People, you don’t call the shots!
 
“Having had so much to work with,
Folks should easily get along.
So either this was meant to happen,
Or my experiment went wrong.
 
“When considering the laws of nature,
I included circumspection.
HA! I guess that we can say
I’m perfect in my imperfection.
 
“There’s one good thing about this, though:
All things must pass. So maybe I’m
Going to have much more success
When I make an Earth next time.”

- by Bob B

Some folks think that God is Love--
A concept that is much revered;
Other people say that he's
An elderly man with a long, white beard.

Some say he is strict and vengeful,
Ready to banish sinners to hell;
Others say he is merciful,
Unless you are an infidel.

There are many people on Earth
Who believe that gods are many;
There are also people on Earth
Who don't believe that there are any.

Many monotheistic people
Firmly believe that God had a son.
They reconcile their one-God view
By saying the TWO are really ONE.

The gods of polytheistic folks
Also have offspring--babies galore.
When you believe in multiple gods,
There is always room for more.

Some folks say God's NOT a he,
But maybe a she or even an it;
And many say you MUST believe
Or end up In a fiery pit.

Some believe that God is Nature,
Which boils down to THAT which IS.
Then should Nature's hand towel be
Marked with "ITS" or "HERS" or "HIS"?

Some believe that God's impatient,
Too demanding, and quick to condemn;
And there are those who truly believe
That God communicates with them.

Those who "talk" to God are not
Necessarily addle-pated;
But those who say God talks to them
Maybe should be medicated.

Some say that their sacred scriptures
Prove their god or gods exist.
Of course, all those writings prove
Nothing to an atheist.

No one knows for sure if God
Is or isn't a human invention.
The best we can do is say God is
Beyond our human comprehension.

-by Bob B (9-13-24)

Facing the inevitable
Is not always easy to do.
Call it facing reality;
That is what it's tantamount to.

For almost twenty years American
Troops have been in Afghanistan.
Propping up an unstable system
And fighting against the Taliban.

Now we are going to pull out our troops
And stop maintaining the status quo.
Many people feel we should
Have done it many years ago.

Cracking down on Al-Qaeda was
Our original reason for being there.
But after all this time it's hard
To handle what we now are seeing there.

Talks between the Taliban forces
And our previous administration,
Without including Afghan officials,
Have led to a tenuous situation.

Resulting from all the "cease fire" deals,
The Taliban were able to seize
All the regional capitals,
And then take over Kabul with ease.

Yes, the Taliban takeover has
Happened with a speed that is numbing.
Didn't our experts anticipate it?
Afghan forces saw it coming.

Some people say that we should stay there
To fight for the Afghans. The reason's clear cut.
Others say that that is complete
Nonsense--stay there and fight for what?

Giving the Afghans a certain amount of
Stability has been a huge endeavor.
But most Americans do not want
To stay there and fight insurgents forever.

While the country has made advances,
It is depressing to watch it careen
Into utter chaos. And now,
What happens next remains to be seen.

What's crucial at this moment, however,
Is that it's incumbent on us to conceive
Of any possible way to help
Afghans who fear for their lives to leave.

What a jam we find ourselves in
When leaders make unwise decisions!
Then others have to clean up the mess,
Which leads to even greater divisions.

-by Bob B (8-17-21)

Trump is upset about what he calls
Fake news being spread--
News which has the soon-to-be
President seeing red.

An unverified dossier
Claims that Russia has power over him.
Fake news or not, it still appears
That Trump's memory is growing dim.

For years he peddled a birther myth!
So, Mr. Trump, please let us put
A question to you: How does it feel
To have the shoe on the other foot?

- by Bob B (1-11-17)

When John Kelly joined team Trump,
Becoming the president's Chief of Staff,
Many thought he'd be the one
To separate the wheat from the chaff--

To rein the frenzied president in
Or guide him when he's out of line.
If those were the expectations,
So far there has been no sign.

Instead, the man basically
Promotes Trump's nativist dreams;
Obnoxious tweets continue to flow
From Trump's phone in steady streams.

Lying to back the president's lies,
Kelly has lost all credibility.
Calling Rob Porter a man of honor,
Shows less strength and more servility.

A man of greatness, pride, and conviction
Needn't resort to subterfuge.
The once-honorable general
Has now become the president's stooge.

-by Bob B (2-13-18)

Crossing the Rio Grande in May,
A Honduran man with his wife and his son
Sought asylum, only to find
Their struggles here had barely begun.

Taken to a processing center,
The family learned the disheartening news:
They would have to be separated.
Having no say-so, they couldn't refuse.

Farewell, Marco Antonio Muñoz.
Some say, "We warned you time after time."
You came for help, and look what happened:
Seeking asylum became your crime.

A CBP° spokesman said that Muñoz
Became "combative" and started to yell.
What parent wouldn't in that situation?
Muñoz was moved and locked in a cell.

Authorities checked on Muñoz often
Not expecting what lay in store
For them in the morning, for one of them found
Muñoz lying dead on the floor.

"Self-strangulation and hanging" they say
Were what caused the father's demise.
Would he be holding his son right now
Had conditions been otherwise?

Farewell, Marco Antonio Muñoz.
Some say, "We warned you time after time."
You came for help, and look what happened:
Seeking asylum became your crime.

AG Sessions feels zero tolerance
Will separate the wheat from the chaff--
That Trump believes in the rule of law.
Mr. Sessions, don't make us laugh!

Others have suffered a similar fate
As a result of our cruel demands.
Our leaders will offer their justification,
But they still have blood on their hands.

Farewell, Marco Antonio Muñoz.
Some say, "We warned you time after time."
You came for help, and look what happened:
Seeking asylum became your crime.

-by Bob B (6-12-18)

°Customs and Border Patrol

I saw Peter Cottontail.
I swear I did. It was he!
He was in a bar last night,
And he WASN'T drinking tea!

Sitting next to him, I said,
"Hey, ol' Pete, ol' buddy, ol' guy---
You've got time to take a break?
How so? Please, tell me why."

"Cut me some slack," the poor guy said.
"Humans have a nasty habit
Of placing incredible expectations
On this weary, forlorn rabbit.

"Hiding billions of eggs, come on!
I'm not omnipotent, as you must know.
This task has been ****** upon me
Since a long time ago.

"What's more, I find it rather disgusting
And NOT in any manner funny
When I see a kid chomping
On a chocolate Easter bunny.

"Furthermore, to pass on baby
Rabbits as an Easter present
Is NOT from MY point of view
A practice I'd call very pleasant.

"And as to candy resembling chicks,
To me it seems so surreptitious
When you're saying, 'Oh, how cute!'
But really thinking, 'How delicious!'

"I think it's time to pass the baton
To  another generous benefactor.
I don't care who it is;
Find a willing, starving actor.

"I suggest an Easter squirrel,
An Easter bear, or Easter goose.
With so much on my plate there's no
Time to even reproduce."

I left poor Peter there at the bar
As he switched to drinking brandy.
I hope that he is able at least
To pass out all of his eggs and candy.

-by Bob B

The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey
Circus will close its doors in May.                                
The Greatest Show on Earth has lost
Its flashy allure of yesterday.

The death-defying acrobats
Will have to seek other employment.
Exotic animal acts no longer
Are a source of great enjoyment.

The circus will fold up its tent for good.
But don't be sad; do not frown.
On January 20
A new circus is coming to town.

- by Bob B (1-16-17)

When I was a kid, I couldn't wait
For the arrival of Christmas Eve.
What was hiding in those boxes?
What were we kids going to receive?

A BB gun, a pogo stick,
And roller skates were fun to get.
Games were exciting, as were a nifty
Microscope and erector set.

Through the years, although receiving
Such presents surely gave me a lift,
A gift certificate to Pickwick
Bookshop was my favorite gift.

I don't mind admitting that I
Was probably a nerd--a geek.
Other kids and I were on
Different wavelengths, so to speak.

Dad would drive me to Hollywood,
Gladly, but still always remarking
How it was a nuisance to have to
Drive so far and pay for parking.

On entering the giant shop,
Dad told me to go explore
That fascinating, multi-level
World of words--books galore!

Explore I did. It didn't take me
Long to have my books in hand.
The feeling you get is one that only
A bibliophile would understand.

Pickwick Bookshop's no longer there.
But I am grateful that I had
Those end-of-the-year book adventures
And spending special moments with Dad.

-by Bob B (12-16-19)

The president has hammered away
Constantly--year after year--
At major attempts to instill in the people
An overwhelming sense of fear.

Asylum seekers and immigrants
Pose a threat--one that's severe--
And terrorists are swarming across
Our border, he's said, instilling fear.

The free press is our enemy,
He's often said, making it clear
That he thinks he can score more points
By making the people live in fear.

The Democrats are after your guns,
He says whenever he has someone's ear,
Trying to make the people more
Insecure by stoking fear.

You in the suburbs had better beware:
The way of life to which you adhere
Is under attack, he says, as riff-raff
Slowly move in. Once again: fear.

Voter fraud is rampant, he says,
Making a non-issue appear
To be a major problem and hoping
To win again through lies and fear.

The Dems are socialists, he says,
Destroying us. Another smear.
He hopes that he can win more votes
By making up stories and stirring up fear.

The Deep State is out to get him,
He says, trying to profiteer
From making himself a martyr and hoping
To add to his base of voters through fear.

And now his people say liberals
Are arming themselves as the election draws near
To wreak havoc in case he wins.
Another unjustifiable fear.

Such are the ways of an autocrat.
If we want to be sincere,
That he could win four more years
Should be our REAL cause of fear.

-by Bob B (9-15-20)

A wave of BLUE has washed across
America. It has succeeded
In offering refreshing hope--
Something that is badly needed.

RED--suspicious--oftentimes
Regards BLUE with flaming derision.
Skeptical, it challenges
BLUE's unifying vision.

BLUE hopes to wash away
Signs of growing division and hate--
To put an end to skilled disruption
And odious chaos before it's too late.

Although people strive to try
To resist the wave, in due course,
The wave of BLUE can bring about
Positive change as it gathers force.

Perhaps the wave can also erode
Stubborn threats to freedom and rights
And dampen the unimaginable
Before the powder keg ignites.

Perhaps the wave will drown the practice
Of unfair treatment, voter suppression,
Verbal attacks, lies and deceit,
And unnecessary aggression.

The BLUE wave could very well
Tone down RED's fiery hue.
Now I feel more optimistic.
What's more, I love the color BLUE.

-by Bob B (11-15-18)

Fiesta is the party cat.
She won't play second fiddle;
Whenever there's a party going on,
She is smack in the middle.

Shrimp cocktail and salmon croquettes--
That's what she prefers.
Don't abandon your plate or else
Fiesta thinks it's hers.

"A lot of cats are skittish," she says,
"And thus they have a bad rap.
I, on the other hand, don't mind
Sitting on anyone's lap.

"Of course, I have an ulterior motive
That guests don't always see.
When I give them attention, there's always
Something in it for me.

"When caviar is served, you'll find me
Walking on a cloud.
I must apply all of my charm
To butter up the crowd.

"I love it when guests rub my tummy
And tickle me under the chin.
When I smell clam dip on their fingers,
My head starts to spin!

"I must admit I have no patience
For guests who shout, 'Achoo!'
And then stentoriously blow their nose
And rudely tell me, 'Shoo!'

"The nerve of them to stifle my pleasure!
For me, goal number one
Is to enjoy each precious moment--
To live means having fun!"

As soon as the dancing begins, Fiesta
Finds a safe location
Far away from dancing feet,
For height is her limitation.

Fiesta waits to hear the hosts
Say, "Let's go to bed.
We can clean up the mess tomorrow."
Then she raises her head.

With everybody gone there's no one
There to scold or berate her.
She can survey each bowl and plate
To see what treasures await her.

"Sally Bowles was right," she says;
"Life is a cabaret!
Why can't my servants put on
A party every day?"

She eats till her stomach is ready to burst,
Heedless of any warning.
Everyone wonders why she is so
Listless in the morning.

-by Bob B (2-14-20)

Fifty-nine victims have died so far--
Children, lovers, husbands, wives,
Parents, siblings, cousins, friends….
Fifty-nine have lost their lives

To senseless violence: a mass shooting
In Las Vegas--a night of hell.
And nearly five hundred people
Attending the concert were wounded as well.

Read their names; read their stories.
They're the innocent; they're the ones
Who faced unspeakable horrors that
Occur when madmen have access to guns.

No, not merely access to guns,
But access to bump fire stock devices.
Does the "right" to such contraptions
Justify human sacrifices?

Are we surprised at the reaction?
In many a weapons showcase room
Or online site there has been
A bump stock sales boom!

At one time many people thought
That Sandy Hook would be the last straw.
Then came Orlando, and now Las Vegas.
Somewhere there's a serious flaw.

Donors grease the politicians'
Palms; lobbyists state their demands.
I would NOT want to be
A politician with blood on my hands.

-by Bob B (10-7-17)

Goliath tormented the Israelites.
Accepting his challenge for most was an error,
For many lost their lives, while the giant
Continued to boast and spread his terror.

Fearing the Champion of the Philistines,
Saul was baffled and at this wits' end.
Knowingly sending men to their death
Was not an easy task to defend.

David, a lad in his teens perhaps--
Confident that he could win--
Offered to take on the giant himself.
Reluctantly, Saul gave in.

"Take my armor and sword," said Saul,
"Which you'll require in order to succeed."
"I have my sling and my rocks," said David.
"My will is the only weapon I need."

The towering giant gazed down on the youth.
"A curse on you!" was all that he said.
David brought him down with some stones
Slung from his sling; then chopped off his head.

For the Philistines, the table had turned,
For now--ha!--it was their turn to fret.
Without their giant, they'd lost their power.
No longer did they serve as a threat.

Goliaths out there, watch out for Davids.
Don't think that you have unlimited power
To spread your threats, your fear, your control.
Our Davids will show you your final hour.

-by Bob B (2-25-18)

They say that in the Manot Cave
In the area now known as Galilee
Part of a human skull was found,
Which is important for you and me.
 
The fifty-five-thousand-year-old remains
Put **** sapiens in Neanderthal land.
We know that despite some interbreeding,
**** sapiens got the upper hand.
 
The Neanderthals became extinct.
Why they disappeared is a mystery.
Violence, pathogens, competitive replacement?
Whatever it was, it is ancient history.
 
The findings help us to know our past,
To see our connectedness and to probe
Into the early migration of mankind
To view how we populated the globe.
 
Life wasn't easy for humans back then.
We can tell when we dig up bones.
How did they ever manage to survive
Without computers and mobile phones?

- by Bob B

I met a guy the other day,
And this is what he had to say--
And yes, he says he is for real--
Despite the leaps of science, he
Says that he must disagree
For he has something sounder to reveal:

"Come join our Flat Earth Society.
Don't fear notoriety.
Come on: there's no degree of risk.
Just be a flat-Earther AND
Help the world to understand
That Earth is not a globe, it is a disc."

Astounded, I asked, "How can I
Accept your theory? Tell me why,
When that was disproved so long ago."
He said that science isn't true;
Scientists don't have a clue.
He knows because the Bible told him so.

I asked how he can prove his case.
Photos shot from outer space
Show that Earth is round instead of flat.
"Conspiracy, for goodness' sake!"
He said, "Those photos all are fake.
'Flat Earth News' is really where it's at."

He said, "You see: we allege
Antarctica is on the edge;
The Arctic is the center our plate.
Scientists all severely
Hurt us with their theories clearly.
Flat Earth truths are what we propagate."

Obviously, it makes no sense
When certain people are that dense
To try to reason with their addled brain.
As scary as it is, I guess
I have to say I must confess
It's humorous to hear their strange refrain:

"Come join our Flat Earth Society.
Don't fear notoriety.
Come on: there's no degree of risk.
Just be a flat-Earther AND
Help the world to understand
That Earth is not a globe, it is a disc."

-by Bob B (6-8-19)

A crow sat on a tree branch holding
A chunk of cheese in her beak.
On top of the world was she. She thought,
"What a lucky streak!"

On seeing her, a fox decided
To use his expertise
To find a way to take from her
That scrumptious chunk of cheese.

Standing under the tree he said,
"Such a noble bird
Is almost indescribable.
It would be absurd

"To come up with appropriate terms
To celebrate your beauty.
But if I didn't try, I fear
'Twould be a breach of duty.

"So here's my attempt: Noble One,
Never have I seen
A more exquisite sight. Of all
The birds you are the queen!

"I'm trying to imagine how
Much pleasure it would bring
Us all to hear your gorgeous voice.
Noble Lady, sing!"

Flattered by the fox's speech,
The crow let out a caw
And dropped the cheese onto the ground.
The hungry fox cried, "Ha!"

And gobbled up the cheese at once.
"Perhaps your counterparts,
Would concur: you've got a voice,
But what you lack is smarts."

The moral is that flatterers
Will tell you what's untrue;
There might be a winner, but
The winner won't be you.

Sometimes even presidents
Can't seem to detect
The crucial differences between
Flattery and respect.

-by Bob B (11-19-17)

°An Aesop fable retold here in verse

Fleeting time:
Just try to contain it;
Try to grasp it,
Hold it, regain it.
 
Time evades us
Like liquid through a sieve.
Our best option
Is to LIVE and LET LIVE.
 
To appreciate the moment:
Make that your VOW.
Bask in the light
Of the eternal NOW.

- by Bob B

Trump is flexing his flabby muscle.
He keeps doing that all the time.
He wants to prove that he's in control
And show that he is tough on crime.

A triple-axe murderer
Fled Madrid. Yes, he's the one
Who went to Venezuela where he
Was sent to prison for what he'd done.

Trump had the killer released
After he'd made a prison deal.
The murderer now walks our streets!
Tell me how that makes you feel.

Kilmar Obrego García was sent
By accident to El Salvador
To languish in prison. After some months
He was returned, but Trump is sore.

So Trump's administration found
A felon set for deportation
To testify against García.
The ****'s now free. An abomination!

Ghilaine Maxwell, *** trafficker
Linked to Trump and sentenced in court
To a 20-year prison term,
Was moved to a prison more like a resort.

After Donald Trump took office,
We saw him pull out all the stops
To pardon the Capitol rioters--even
One who called for killing cops.

The guy is now a DOJ
Official. The AG hired the man.
In order to please Donald Trump,
Bondi will do whatever she can.

Although in D.C. crime is down,
Trump wants control, of course.
And so there's now a domestically
Deployed military force.

And NOW he calls on the national guard?
Before he wasn't so quick to respond
When rioters stormed the Capitol.
With them he has a special bond.

We are aware that Donald Trump
Employs distractions all the time.
Instead of releasing the Epstein files,
He wants us to think he's tough on crime.

-by Bob B (8-17-25)

(Thanks to R.M. for the inspiration)

Social Media has changed our lives
In ways both good and bad.
Will it stick around or is it
Just a temporary fad?

Know people's current location.
Even see what they had for dinner!
Find out election results:
Who's the loser? Who's the winner?

Keep abreast of births and deaths,
Parties, weddings and celebrations.
Send your condolences,
Comments or congratulations.

Read up on current trends;
Catch the latest breaking news.
Share a joke or witty saying;
Find out people's political views.

Watch a video clip or listen
To a friend's brand-new song.
Post your favorite recipe.
(Hey, with that you can't go wrong.)

Read a poem or view people's
Photo albums on their wall.
Sift through scores of unchecked "facts."
Yes, Facebook has it all.

Sometimes there is TMI;
Sometimes there is not enough.
Sometimes there is powerful info;
Sometimes there's a lot of fluff.

You don't have to read my postings.
No, that would not offend me.
However, if you choose to block them,
I'd prefer that you unfriend me.

- by Bob B

Some Republicans recently
Have managed to drop to a brand-new low.
People are seriously wondering
How much lower they can go.

Following the Donald Trump playbook
On how to degrade our institutions,
And listening to conspiracy theories,
They have come up with some shameful solutions.

A Fox News maniac,
Sean Hannity, stirs the ***.
If he can find a way to discredit
The FBI, he'll give it a shot.

Claiming that politics infects
Mueller's investigative team,
Hannity and friends are trying
To stop Mueller. What a scheme!

If Republicans create
Doubts in people, then by and by,
People won't trust any findings
Shared by the FBI.

Trump and some of his supporters,
By disrespecting the rule of law,
Put our freedoms in jeopardy
With their alt-right blah, blah, blah.

Rules, conscience, fairness, honesty,
And decency all go astray,
For these things don't matter to them
When obstacles are in their way.

Lamenting as institutions erode,
We watch an ever-growing kleptocracy
Spread its vile control, which threatens
The integrity of our democracy.

-by Bob B (12-8-17)

In the western highlands of Guatemala
Living conditions are turning sour
As people face adversity,
Day by day, hour by hour.

Climate change is taking a toll
On the lives of many, especially the poor.
When asked why they're fleeing, they say,
"Food doesn't grow here anymore."

The growth of many of their children is stunted;
Children are dying of malnutrition.
The parents want what all people want
Who find themselves in their position:

They want to leave, to find a place
Where their children can survive--
Where life is not an overwhelming
Challenge of trying to stay alive.

They know the journey north is hard;
Some have died along the way.
What are their options? To take a chance?
One thing's certain: they die if they stay.

Our government threatens to cut off aid
Which would only make matters worse.
That will not stop desperate people
From fleeing; it will do the reverse.

Hear the cries from Guatemala.
Don't close your eyes or cover your ears.
A ghostly lament will echo along
The banks of a dried up river of tears.

-by Bob B (6-7-19)

°Based on a report by Nicholas Kristof

Everything is a lesson
Whether we like it or not.
Everything has a meaning.
Everything’s food for thought:
 
Unfortunate times, our triumphs,
Days both happy and sad,
People who warm our hearts,
People who drive us mad,
 
Illnesses and wellness,
Incidents that we regret,
Things we’ll remember forever,
And things we would like to forget.
 
Life makes more sense when
We open our eyes and our minds.
It’s like a light bulb going on,
Or like someone opening the blinds.
 
When we see interconnectedness—
When everything’s not about US—
Causes and conditions
Show us there’s always a THUS.
 
BOTH seeing and knowing
Guide us in understanding
The world around us; however,
The truth is also demanding.
 
You wonder: Does all of this knowing
Provide us with much consolation
When we feel so helpless
In effecting a transformation?
 
Some things seem so simple,
And yet they’re complicated.
It turns out the golden rule
Is far too underrated.
 
Too many people can’t see
The forest for the trees.
They claim to offer assurance,
But end up causing unease.
 
Sometimes the lessons we learn
Are hard to reconcile—
Especially when fanatics’
Tactics are cruel and vile.
 
Blinded by ideologies,
They lack genuine caring;
Their means for achieving their goals
Are violent and overbearing.
 
Is it that they do not see?
Or is it that they do not care?
Lying to themselves prevents them
From becoming truly aware.
 
It’s sad for the many victims
Whose lives are miserably affected
By those ideological thugs
Whose goals are misdirected.
 
It’s how we USE what we’ve learned
To help us make changes—to act—
To help us make smart decisions,
Using our wisdom and tact.
 
Learning from all of life’s lessons,
Combined with introspection
Or getting in touch with ourselves,
Is a step in the right direction.
 
Just always keep in mind
That whether we like it or not,
Everything has a meaning;
Everything’s food for thought.

- by Bob B

Every day it seems that we hear on the news
That someone else has a few loose screws:
Anti-vaxxers causing disruptions on our planes.
Trying to be obnoxious, they go to great pains.
Defying mask rules, they are picking fights,
Intimidating passengers and delaying flights.
Physically and verbally abusive, they don't care
If they cause disturbance on the ground or in the air.

Foolishly trying to assert their independence,
They spit at, and yell at, and curse at flight attendants,
Who must bear the burden of all the lunacy.
It also is a serious threat to you and me.
Recently, we've heard that a certain nutcase
Punched a flight attendant right in the face,
Knocking out two teeth! Another commandeered
The plane's PA system. Boy, was that weird!

Some unruly passengers have so turned up the heat
That they have had to be duct taped to their seat.
To spread misinformation about our vaccines,
Some of them resort to using any means.
Screeching and preaching, expressing their defiance
Of epidemiologists who rely on science,
Some of these crazies seem to be intent
On being as obnoxious as the former president.

It's so sad to see that we have come to this.
It makes a person wonder what has gone amiss.
Why do some people choose to reject
Behavior toward others that involves more respect?
Fools! They show a lack of common sense.
Fools are the ones who come to their defense.
Fools! I can't think of any other word--
Fools!--to describe behavior so absurd.

THEY'RE FOOLS!

-by Bob B (10-18-21)

Every day it seems that we hear on the news
That someone else has a few loose screws:
Anti-vaxxers causing disruptions on our planes.
Trying to be obnoxious, they go to great pains.
Defying mask rules, they are picking fights,
Intimidating passengers and delaying flights.
Physically and verbally abusive, they don't care
If they cause disturbance on the ground or in the air.

Foolishly trying to assert their independence,
They spit at, and yell at, and curse at flight attendants,
Who must bear the burden of all the lunacy.
It also is a serious threat to you and me.
Recently, we've heard that a certain nutcase
Punched a flight attendant right in the face,
Knocking out two teeth! Another commandeered
The plane's PA system. Boy, was that weird!

Some unruly passengers have so turned up the heat
That they have had to be duct taped to their seat.
To spread misinformation about our vaccines,
Some of them resort to using any means.
Screeching and preaching, expressing their defiance
Of epidemiologists who rely on science,
Some of these crazies seem to be intent
On being as obnoxious as the former president.

It's so sad to see that we have come to this.
It makes a person wonder what has gone amiss.
Why do some people choose to reject
Behavior toward others that involves more respect?
Fools! They show a lack of common sense.
Fools are the ones who come to their defense.
Fools! I can't think of any other word--
Fools!--to describe behavior so absurd.

THEY'RE FOOLS!

-by Bob B (10-18-21)

(For some reason, I found this poem in my DRAFTS. I guess I hadn't "published" it for public eyes, and it sat, along with 25 or so of my other poems, in my DRAFTS folder until today. Sorry about the delay.)

The night calmly, quietly departed,
Letting the sun nudge in the dawn.
A new day often brings joy;
But not today, for Carrie has gone.

A torch has suddenly been extinguished;
A candle's flickering flame has gone out.
As hard as we try to hope against hope,
Some things we can do nothing about.

Full of life, exuberance, and charm,
Carrie touched many hearts with her spirit.
Try as one might to match her vitality,
Few people could ever come near it.

Her matchless energy filled us with wonder.
Her gregarious character was bubbly and hearty.
As soon as Carrie entered a room,
She became the life of the party.

A struggle-free path she didn't have;
A few demons madly pursued her.
Despite occasional challenges,
Death was the only one that subdued her.

Subdue her? No, that isn't right.
Her inimitable energy exists
In the turbulent, blowing desert winds;
In the cool, soothing mountain mists;

In the majestic, glorious New Mexican mesas;
In the gently rising hot air balloon;
In the crest of the regal desert roadrunner;
In the calm, peaceful face of the moon;

In the gracefully blooming yucca flower;
In the crisp, caressing autumn breeze;
In desert blooms; in the pinyon pine;
In the autumn colors bursting from trees.

I will not say good-bye to Carrie.
I'll just take in a breath of air,
Hear her voice, her songs, her laughter,
And feel her presence everywhere.

- by Bob B

Vote, everybody!
Vote to protect
Women's right to choose.
Vote to slow down
Climate change.
Otherwise, we all lose.

Vote to preserve
Equality:
Marriage rights for all.
Vote to save
Democracy
In our election this fall.

Vote to uphold
The rule of law.
Do NOT lower the bar.
Make all people
Accountable--
No matter WHO they are.

Vote to protect
The environment
From damage and abuse.
Vote to defend
The Constitution
From dangerous misuse.

Vote to fix
Our broken system
Of immigration laws.
Vote against those
Who aim to put
Human rights on pause.

Vote for folks
Who are loyal to
Our Constitution and try
To do what's right.
Don't be fooled
By candidates who lie.

Vote for effective
Gun laws that make
Our country a safer place.
Vote to give kids
A good education.
That's something we must embrace.

Vote so we
Can have more judges
Who do not impose
Extremist views
Upon the people.
We have too many of those.

Vote for a system
Of fair taxation--
A workable system in which
All people
Can benefit
And NOT just the rich.

Vote to support
Diversity.
So much is at stake.
Don't give in
To apathy!
Vote, for goodness' sake!

-by Bob B (7-28-22)

A little after two A.M.
This morning forty-nine names were read--
The names of forty-nine victims who
Now are sleeping among the dead.

They lost their lives a year ago
When a gunman, ISIS-inspired,
Sneaked his weapon into a nightclub,
Held it up, and open-fired.

Those who survived the horrible shooting
At the gay club where the crime took place
Will constantly relive that nightmare.
It's hardly something that time can erase.

Fifty-three patrons were wounded that night,
Many of whom still are reeling
From the horror, and they still require
Physical and mental healing.

Think of the families and friends of the victims.
Think of the magnitude of their loss.
How do you measure the sadness when
Extremists and innocent lives crisscross?

People from all over the world
Were appalled by the killer's barbarity
And sent kind words of sympathy
As they joined together in solidarity.

However, from under a dark veil
Of hatred and hypocrisy,
Emerged some voices of hatred from those
Hell-bent on a theocracy.

Voices of fanaticism,
No matter the source, always destroy
The goodness that is meant to be
And stifle liberty and joy.

Today in Orlando and in other cities,
Forty-nine times the church bells will sound.
May we remember the innocent victims
And let love and compassion abound.

- by Bob B (6-12-17)